Kandep District is embracing changes into the communities through cultural services and programs.

The lower, middle and upper Wage communities in the Longap Local Level Government (LLG) in Kandep District of Enga Province, once known for its lawlessness and trouble fighting, are keen to host its first ever cultural show in December next year.

The National Cultural Commission has been instrumental in delivering cultural services and programs down to the community level connecting people with their cultures. The Wage cultural festival is one such effort of going rural. NCC Executive Director, Steven Enomb Kilanda, and Enga Take Anda Cultural Centre Director, Akii Tumu, launched the Wage Cultural show in Wabag on August 14, 2023.

The Wage Cultural Show will be first cultural festival to be hosted and staged in the Wage area of Kandep District, according to the chairman of the festival, Mr. Tumu Ayala, who said the area is a unique place because it shares the borders of Hela and Southern Highlands province.

“We are grateful for this opportunity and platform provided by the NCC to use cultural services and programs like this to change the mindset, and lives of our people in the community.

“This is the first cultural show to be held back at the local community. Kandep is ready to host this show starting next year,” Mr. Ayala said. He said people from Wage have been participating at the annual Enga Show over the years, “but to have a cultural show for ourselves is very rewarding, and we are grateful for the recognition and support from the National Cultural Commission”.

“This cultural show will now give us the opportunity to showcase our unique cultures and bring together the communities from all over the district and province. We are also inviting our brothers and sisters from Magarima in Hela and Mendi in Southern Highlands as we share the border with these two electorates,” he said.